VICTORIAN CROSS-WRITTEN LETTERS TO BERMUDA

Two cross-written manuscript letters penned in October 1845, to Edward Ward Esquire, Royal Engineers, Bermuda, one from his sister Henrietta, the second from Fanny Ward, both living at 114, Champs Elysees, Paris. Each letter is 9 ⅞ x 15 inches (approx 25 x 38 cm), written on both sides, bearing both red postage payment stamps and blue ‘St. James St’ stamps and the instruction ‘By Halifax Mail’ indicating the Cunard mail service route. Both letters bear remains of seals.

While Fanny’s letter of 30 October deals almost exclusively with news of family and friends, that from Henrietta, dated October 14 recounts in detail the excitements of their social life in Paris, with several visits to the Italian and French opera houses (of the tenor Moriani she writes: ‘he is an ugly fat monster, but he sings and acts very well’) and an account of seeing the renowned mesmerist Alexis at work, and attempting to verify his statements about her brother in Bermuda at the time (‘and [that you] for the last two months had commenced wearing moustaches - kindly write and tell us if this is true.’)

Lieutenant Edward Ward R.E. was stationed on Bermuda during this period.